Ebola – What’s To know?

Evolution of Ebola

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); “Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a strain of Ebola virus. The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. The risk of an Ebola outbreak affecting multiple people in the U.S. is very low. What you need to know: Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and body fluids of a person infected by and already showing.”

Ever since the disease debuted in 1976, the Ebola virus disease became the stuff of nightmares and horror films, with a barrage of symptoms set to liquify and transform the sickened body into a cesspool of viral contagion. With terror spreading as quickly as this insidious African virus, we authored this body of information for our readers to drink in, and understand the fierce reality that fuels this disease and its progression.

As the spotlight on Sierra Leone grows brighter, and the trending focus on this disease grows broader, the general public’s spectrum of questions reaches further and further across the globe as many individuals begin to wonder if they should worry.

Where did Ebola come from? What expanse does it cover from recent history? What are the symptoms and likelihood of exposure? Have health officials failed to properly evaluate the potential for destruction this virus could cause? What precautions are associations like the CDC and WHO taking to prevent a pandemic? We take an in-depth look at ins and outs of the Ebola virus disease to offer you a collective idea of the propensity for spreading.

With new cases popping up at random – including one in the United States, we wanted to offer you an all-in-one body of information where we attempt to tackle these questions and more. After all, should Ebola go global, then the evolution of disaster appears as the stuff of horror films. This is no Halloween joke – this our health.

 

Origins of Outbreak

The Ebola virus is a relatively modern disease that did not appear under the radar until the year 1976. Scientists believe that the volatile virus originated in the forests near the Ebola River, a tributary of the Congo River. Thought to be born in the bodies of either bats or wild primates, Ebola may have erupted from a cave in Zaire.

When Ebola found its way into the human body, most medical professionals misdiagnosed it as malaria, or another disease that produced similar early symptoms. It took the available medical facilities and staff, as well as civilians, by complete surprise with its virulent aggression and vague symptoms. The location of the first ever outbreak was Yambuku, Zaire and in Nzara, Maridi of South Sudan.

Because of little knowledge and understanding of the virus’s contagion, Ebola spread like wildfire – infecting both medical staff and the general population. Zaire alone experienced a total of 318 recorded cases of the disease, with around 280 recorded deaths. The virus claimed about 88% of the lives in Yambuku. The death toll in South Sudan climbed to 151 out of 284, leaving only a 47% survival rate.

The next outbreak of Ebola came suddenly in the United States – with little attention from the public or knowledge from the media. In 1989, a strain of the Ebola virus disease called Reston for its location in Reston, Virginia, took a stranglehold on a shipment of monkeys needed for lab work and experimentation. Monkeys began exhibiting symptoms of a serious illness that was killing them off and moving through the airways, allowing for virulent contagion.

Even though some of the scientists and military workers took the precautions of spacesuits and proper protection to divert the possibility of the spread of illness, some individuals still got bitten or exposed someway else to the fluids of the sick animals. However, unbeknownst to those working the outbreak, this strain of Ebola did not have an affect on humans – only monkeys. A stroke of sheer luck, the success of this incident still made the reality of epidemic potential real for America – not just a horror story from the bowels of Africa.

The next outbreak worthy of mention happened in 1995. Ebola struck Kikwit, Zaire with incredible force that the primitive medical set-up could not handle. The basic set-up of medical facilities and equipment mixed with the traditions and culture of the people created the right conditions for disease-ridden disaster.

Burial rites often included individuals touching and cleansing corpses, and the cuisine native to these people included bats, rats, insects, and monkeys – all potential hosts for Ebola. These customs and the unsanitary conditions of the hospital caused caregivers to be unprepared for the onslaught. A total of 315 recorded cases of individuals with the disease, 250 of which died leaving a death rate of 81%.

Smaller, less noticeable outbreaks continued to occur, with recorded cases climbing no further than 200, and death rates averaging at about 50-90% on all cases. The virus’s intensity or propensity for destruction did not let up, and the lack of information on the disease continued to harvest fear from scientists and doctors alike.

Even as Ebola quietly traveled through and devastated various populations in African countries – received with little attention from the media and studied with little interest by the general public – helpful information regarding the containment and treatment of the disease remained elusive and difficult to find. In fact, until the more recent, vicious breakout, no one seemed to care that the stuff of films like Quarantine, 28 Days Later, and Contagion unfolded in real life.

 

Current Catastrophe 

As early as March of this year, Ebola made headlines in stories on the Internet as a potential threat. However, the individual to first fall victim to the current outbreak gradually making its way across the globe was a 2 year-old boy living in southeastern Guinea with his family. Dubbed Patient Zero, the professionals investigating this outbreak’s origins discovered that he died December 6, 2013.

From there, Ebola spread to his family to weave a web rife of entanglements and miscalculation from a number of important associations centered around world health. Many individuals seeking help in containing the rapid growth of sick people, like health care workers, volunteers, or charitable doctors, asked for relief, supplies, and other forms of aid. The act of reaching out proved fruitless, as authorities in global health undermined the severity of this epidemic’s growth.

As the number of reported cases climbed along with the number of reported dead, the intensity of the situation grew with the African summer heat. Workers ventured into the community to find the dead and dying for a proper, sanitary burial. Journalists reported up to six people dying per day in communities. Medical technicians working in the hospitals warned against touching the walls.

Ebola claimed the lives of the health care workers themselves. An outbreak that began quietly in Guinea now received global attention as it spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. The CDC reports a current 13,241 people reported sick and 4,950 reported dead. Two things make this outbreak scarier than all the rest — save for the first. 1) This outbreak spread quickly, and has a higher ratio of people infected by the virus over a larger expanse of territory. 2) It travels internationally, both intentionally and accidentally.

 

Ebola’s True Intentions Unveiled

To fully comprehend severity of this disease, you need to take a look at the symptoms it causes – not for the faint of heart, we assure you. The virus’s main goal is to turn the human body into itself, leaving a skin-hewn bag of liquidated flesh and organs – all infested with the disease.

It starts with a headache, just behind the eyes and the temples, making its way around the entire head until there is an aching pressure that no medication can relieve. Eventually, the feverish ache moves into the spine. After about three days from the symptoms‘ start, nausea spikes with a fever to follow.

Gradually, the stomach empties leaving nothing left to vomit. Thus, the retching becomes fruitless dry heaves that wrack the body in a volatile manner. Despite this nerve-wracking state of being, the sick person seems unaffected and passive despite circumstances.

The face loses its expression as the virus eats away at the connective tissues, and the eyes fixate as the lids droop to give a sleepy appearance. As the virus eats away at the brain tissues that make up the personality portion of the brain, this passiveness turns to delirium. While the person may answer questions, he or she will barely respond with any emotion.

As the virus progresses, turning muscles, tissues, skin, and veins into viral mush, blood bruises appear from bursting veins. The vomit runs reddish black with arterial blood and black, virulent sludge – also called vomito negro. The body begins hemorrhaging, thus causing the orifices (nose, eyes, ears, mouth, other bodily cavities) to trickle with blood. The person may seem almost irritable toward any words or gestures from others, answering only in grunts.

Eventually, the virus amplifies at such an exponential rate that the human body sort of stops being a human body. It becomes a bag of soupy goo made of nothing but virus. At this point, the organs may rupture and a rush of blood exits the person’s body – a process called ‘crashing and bleeding out.’

If the person dies before this stage, then he or she dies from dehydration or failed immune system. If this does not claim the life, then lacking enough blood to even circulate through the body will. Essentially, the person becomes a nonaggressive zombie whose body is a bomb of sickness just waiting to explode. The illness is the embodiment of some of the darkest moments in history and some of the most grotesque scenes in scary films. This illness is a reality.

 

American Cure

The first-ever cases of Ebola in America (that which affects humans) appeared because politicians decided it was a good idea to bring some infected Americans – volunteers in an infected area – to American facilities for treatment. Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly were flown from their relief work in Africa to Emory University Hospital in Georgia for treatment and a drug to hopefully help cure Ebola.

As requests for body bags grew in Africa, so did anxiety with the American public. One of the deadliest and most infectious viral strains known to mankind had landed on American soil for the first time. Despite public fears, the treatment worked, and the patients survived the virus.

This provided new hope that the decades of death and fear would come to an end, and Ebola’s eruption would soften. Many viewed the two survivors as heroes, and a new light seemed to burst from the end of the tunnel. But the fight is not over yet, and concern continues to grow.

 

Ebola Goes Global

The fight to maintain some control over the disease’s progression rages on as the burning fever linked to the virus’s symptoms itself. While the first individuals, Brantly and Writebol, were diagnosed in Africa, Thomas Eric Duncan, was diagnosed in Texas.

Thus, he became the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in America. After receiving a proper dose of the same research drug given to Writebol and Brantly, Duncan died on October 8, 2014 after a week of treatment at Texas Presbyterian Hospital.

This increased fears and proved the need for screenings on patients coming from infected areas of Africa. Tensions grew when Ashoka Mukpo arrived in Nebraska to receive treatment. He also received a dose of the research drug, and continues battling the virus to date.

Civilians living near Washington D.C. got a scare as an individual traveling from Liberia was hospitalized for displaying symptoms similar to Ebola. While this screening showed negative results with Ebola, this event stressed the need for more security regarding individuals traveling to and from areas hot with viral activity.

Another frightening reality is that even the miracle cure has its limits. As an experimental drug, its sources and supply are limited. Thus, we must rely on old, trusty habits to ensure that we stay healthy and Ebola-free.

 

Eluding Ebola

Doing things that you normally do to keep yourself free from sickness will help your chances of avoiding Ebola. While the likelihood of a full-blown epidemic in America is extremely slim, there are still precautions you can take to ensure your health. We have a few tips on how to boost your immune system to support its optimal performance.

Ebola can be transferred through the fluids of individuals that are showing symptoms, or via contact with contaminated surfaces, according to recent reports from the WHO and CDC. This means that you can contract the virus if saliva, mucus, vomit, stool, blood, or any other form excretion comes into direct contact with an open wound, mouth, or other bodily orifice that could act as an entry way.

While Ebola is not airborne, it can still potentially contaminate surfaces that lack proper cleansing. With germ-squelching habits common and familiar in America, and with the availability of advanced medical care, the spread of the virus is highly unlikely. For every one infected individual, an average of two consequentially infected people may exist. Thus, as long as officials keep track of the sick and their contacts, any spread in America may be contained.

However, we do recommend taking extra precautions to avoid the insidious nature of this virus. Ensuring cleanliness and ingesting foods that boost your immune will help your chances of surviving in the unlikely event of infection from the Ebola virus. Here are a few things you can do to elude Ebola.

 

Possible Solution to Defeating This Wretched Virus

One option, suggested by Dr. Rima Laibow, is taking a supplement if nanosilver. Dr. Laibow, a practitioner of natural medicine, holds the position of President of the NeuroTherapy Certification Board. She helped develop this board as a means of educating and treating patients with nontoxic options. She endorses “health promotion” over “illness care” in the treatment of many illnesses and health conditions.

Nano silver, proven to help bind the proteins of multiple viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis, renders them inactive. It is also proven to do such with Ebola, and is safe for everyone to ingest — including pregnant women. In fact, as of October 20th, 2014, the Alhaji Kanu, the Sierra Leone’s Minister of Presidential and Public Affairs, announced his approval in using Nano Silver 10 PPM as a treatment of the insidious virus. He made this motion based off of strong clinical evidence suggesting its effectiveness against Ebola. You can purchase nano silver as a supplement.

 

Building Your Immune System

Enriching your diet with certain supplements and foods can also give your immune system a strong boost as well. We recommend taking capsules of herbs like goldenseal, olive leaf, and vitamin C to ensure your immune system’s strength and health. Eating organic fruits high in vitamin C, like apples and citrus, or organic leafy greens, like kale or spinach, will not only boost your vitamin intake, but also provide you with necessary minerals as well. Zinc, selenium, and iron are all highly important for maintaining good blood content and a strong immune response.

Another way to keep your immune system working on point lies in having sex with your spouse. Married couples can engage in sexual activity to maximize blood flow, relieve stress, and participate in regular light exercise. Intimate activity with your marital partner can heighten levels of a certain antibody called immunoglobulin A, your first defense against viral attacks.

Of course, other obvious ways to protect yourself from Ebola and all other illnesses include ensuring plenty of sleep and rest, and avoiding stress. Eat as much fresh, organic, non-GMO foods as possible, and expose yourself to plenty of sunlight. GMO-created foods, lack of rest and sunlight, and habits like smoking or taking over-the-counter drugs are all forms of immuno-suppressants that will cut your immune system’s performance short.

 

Clean is King 

Washing your hands and practicing hygienic routines like regular bathing, cleaning fruits and vegetables, and maintaining regular sanitary habits are other ways to keep any disease from spreading. Plus, maintaining a healthy immune system is key in ensuring a good quality of livelihood.

We carry a line of hand cleansers that fit these specific needs. Made with all-natural ingredients, these cleansers are super-effective in maintaining hygiene and controlling the spread of bacteria and viruses. Place an order today to make sure your family stays healthy and toxin-free for the upcoming holiday season!

If you have any questions regarding our products, posts, and other cool stuff, feel free to contact us with your message. To continue the discussion on Ebola or make suggestions for future blog posts, feel free to leave a comment below. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Final thoughts:

Fear only breads fear. Ebola is not the end all that many news outlets continue to report. Do not be swayed with this media frenzy that some will try to capitalize on to get your attention and captivate you with fear. Stay focused, remain positive, and keep moving forward. Do not worry about ebola – this too will pass!

And don’t forget to share us with your family and friends!

 

References

• The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
• 25 Years Ago, a Different Ebola Outbreak: in USA
• Don’t Touch the Walls
• Ebola Virus Disease
• Outbreaks Chronology: Ebola Virus Disease
• Ebola Virus and Disease
• Tracing Ebola’s Breakout to an African 2 Year Old
• Ebola Patients Discharged from Emory University Hospital
• Patient at D.C.’s Howard University Hospital Does Not Have Ebola
• Texas Ebola Patient Gets Experimental Drug
• Nebraska Ebola Patient Getting Same Experimental Drug as Texas Patient
• Texas Ebola Patient Dies; U.S. Airports to Begin Screening for the Virus
• No, Seriously, How Contagious is Ebola?
• 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex
• Top 11 Benefits of Sex
• None Need Die of Ebola